BOX SCORE JAMAICA N.Y. – It was the first game of the season for the York Cardinals women's basketball team under new head coach Anastasia Bitis on Wednesday night.  Despite a strong opening effort, the Cardinals fell to The College of Mount Saint Vincent by a final score of 81-69.
  
The Dolphins came into this season after winning 18 games a year ago, while York only won two last season. However, the two teams looked very even for most of the contest. The game was back and forth for much of the first half, but Mount Saint Vincent held the advantage going into halftime with a score of 39-36. Both teams would come out of the locker room and start the second half off really strong, but the Dolphins started to pull away in the fourth quarter when Kristen Merrell hit key shots and free throws to give the Dolphins the win.
 
Making her college debut in a Cardinal uniform, NyKeisha Paul showed off her playing ability. Paul led all scorers with 19 points, while shooting 50 percent from the field. Paul helped to keep the Cardinals in the game late down the stretch and was seen to be a true leader on the wood. Karen Bellamy, Giovana Rosado and Evanda Redwood each added nine points for the Cardinals in the loss.
 
For the Dolphins it was Kristen Merrell leading all scorers with 23 points. While Kelly Nola chipped in 14 points in the win.
 
The Cardinals will look to pick up their first win of the season when they travel to Mahwah, New Jersey to compete in the Ramapo College Tournament starting Friday night at 7:30 p.m.